30-year old backup SF/SF Carlos Delfino is going to miss the rest of the playoffs due to a bone fracture in his right foot which will require surgery to repair. Delfino played in 5 games (0 starts) in the playoffs for the Rockets and he averaged 24.0 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Delfino also played in 67 games (5 starts) during the regular season for the Rockets in which he averaged 25.2 minutes, 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. This is a big loss for the Rockets’ bench moving forward.

Starting point guard Jeremy Lin bruised his chest in Game #2 against the Thunder and he could be limited in the rest of the series. Lin has played in 2 games (both starts) for the Rockets so far in this series against the Thunder and he is averaging 26.0 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Regardless of how much Lin can play moving forward, rookie Patrick Beverly is going to play a lot. He has played in 2 games (1 start) against the Thunder so far in this series and he is averaging 34.5 minutes, 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Lin needs to bite the bullet and show some toughness.

23-year old power forward Patrick Patterson is out indefinitely due to a right foot injury. Patterson has played in 21 games (all starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 29.5 minutes, 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has now played in 137 games (28 starts) in his first three years with the Rockets and he is averaging 21.7 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. This is a bad break for Patterson as he was getting his first real shot to show what he can do in the NBA.

25-year old power forward Jon Brockman is out indefinitely due to a eye problem. Brockman came to the Rockets in the Samuel Dalembert deal with the Bucks over the summer. Brockman played in 35 games (0 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 6.8 minutes, 1.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. The Rockets should be o.k. without Brockman as he had a few guys ahead of him on the depth chart at power forward.

The Rockets have decided to shut down 26-year old point guard Kyle Lowry (sports hernia) and 29-year old shooting guard Kevin Martin (shoulder) for the rest of the 2011-12 season. Lowry played in 47 games (38 starts) for the Rockets this year and he averaged 32.1 minutes, 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Martin played in 40 games (all starts) for the Rockets this year and he averaged 31.6 minutes, 17.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. The Rockets are 1.5 games behind the Utah Jazz for the last playoff spot, with 1 game left to play…so it made sense to shut down Lowry and Martin.

24-year old power forward Jordan Hill will be out until at least the All-Star Break due to a strained MCL. He has played in 29 games (7 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 15.1 minutes, 5.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. With Hill on the shelf, look for Patrick Patterson to see a bump in P.T. I don’t think that’s a bad thing for the Rockets as Patterson has played pretty well so far this year. Patterson has played in 29 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Rockets and he is averaging 21.6 minutes, 7.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

35-year old center Brad Miller hopes to be ready to return to the Rockets in January of 2012 after having microfracture surgery on his left knee. Miller played in 60 games (5 starts) in his first season with the Rockets and he averaged 16.9 minutes, 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Miller has now played in 853 games (597 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 28.6 minutes, 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He proved last season that he had a little bit left in the gas tank so the Rockets hope he’s ready to return to action in January.

The Rockets have lost starting center Chuck Hayes for the next 2-4 weeks with a sprained ankle. Hayes has played in 31 games (20 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 21.5 minutes, 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 54.2% shooting from the floor. The Rockets will use 23-year old Jordan Hill and 34-year old Brad Miller at center until Hayes is ready to return to action. Hill has played in 29 games (1 start) so far this year and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game on 51.3% from the floor. I look for Hill to step up and respond to the challenge. Brad Miller has played in 30 games (5 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 18.1 minutes, 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Miller is shooting an amazing 43.4% from three point range so far this year. I think Hill & Miller will do a good job while Hayes is out of action.

30-year old center Yao Ming’s season is over as he has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left ankle. Yao played in 5 games (all starts) for the Rockets this year and he averaged 18.2 minutes, 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.6 blocked shots. Yao has now played in 482 games (476 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 32.5 minutes, 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. It will be interesting to see what the Rockets decide to do with Yao because they just can’t count on him to stay healthy.

The Houston Rockets will be without starting center Yao Ming for the next week due to a strained tendon in his left leg. Yao has played in 5 games (all starts) so far this year and he is averaging 18.2 minutes, 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Yao is being limited to 24 minutes per night and he isn’t playing in second end of back to back games. Still, he’s playing well in his limited minutes and the Rockets will take it easy with him with this injury.

UPDATE: (11/23/2010) – The Rockets are going to be without Yao for another two weeks as they are going to take it slow with him and that’s a smart move.